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Cruzeiro crush Real Potosi 7-0

BUENOS AIRES - Twice South American champions Cruzeiro, runners-up last year, crushed Real Potosi of Bolivia 7-0 to qualify for the group phase of the Libertadores Cup.

Published

4 February 2010

Seven different players got on the score-sheet in Wednesday's preliminary round, second leg at the Mineirao in Belo Horizonte to send home side Cruzeiro through 8-1 on aggregate after Potosi had two players sent off.

Cruzeiro, who also did well to draw the away leg 1-1 in the thin air of Potosi, one of the world's highest cities nearly 4,000 metres above sea level, will meet Velez Sarsfield of Argentina, Chile's Colo Colo and Deportivo Italia of Venezuela in Group Seven.

The Brazilian side's three-man forward line was devastating with Wellington Paulista helping to break the deadlock with a shot that Marquinhos Parana turned into his own net after 29 minutes.

Ten minutes later Cruzeiro were three up after further goals by busy midfielder Thiago and Kleber and they went in at halftime 4-0 up with another from defender Jonathan.

The Bolivians were reduced to 10 men in the opening minute of the second half after a bad foul by Gerardo Yecerotte on fellow striker Kleber.

Potosi then lost defender Gonzalo Galindo to a second booking for dissent in the 74th minute after he refused to take a ring off his finger.

Substitutes Eliandro, Bernardo and Ecuadorean Joffre Guerron, with a superb last-minute strike from the narrowest of angles, finished off the tie with three goals in the last four minutes.

PERUVIANS THROUGH

Peru's Juan Aurich qualified with a 2-1 away win over Estudiantes UAG of Mexico in Guadalajara.

They go through 4-1 on aggregate to Group Three to meet compatriots Alianza Lima, title holders Estudiantes de La Plata of Argentina and Bolivia's Bolivar.

Panamanian striker Luis Tejada scored his third goal of the tie for the Peruvians, who had defender Willy Rivas sent off with 25 minutes remaining.

Juan Aurich goalkeeper Diego Morales, who made a string of fine saves, told reporters: "The team showed a lot of will and personality."

On Tuesday, Pablo Velazquez struck his second goal eight minutes from time to give Libertad of Paraguay a 3-1 home win over Deportivo Tachira of Venezuela for a 3-2 aggregate victory.

The team from Asuncion go into Group Four with Lanus of Argentina, Bolivia's Blooming and Universitario of Peru.

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